The Golf Channel’s Matt Ginella rates his top 10 destinations for Buddy Golf Trips. He ranks Kiawah Island as his 6th best destination that is surprisingly good from him due to his long-time feud with The Ocean Course which beat him up pretty good a few years ago during our “Friendship Cup.” We’re glad he doesn’t hold a grudge!

Luke interviewed by local and national news stations following his completing his cross-country journey – tee to shining tee!

Luke Bielawski has gone from from Tee to Shining Tee. His golf course was 5,078,382 yards (2,928 miles). He lost 5,540 golf balls over a stretch of 93 days traveling from the beach at Ventura, California on May 17th and finishing on the shores of Kiawah Island’s The Ocean Course on August 10th. It took 46,805 strokes (with penalties to cross the entire United States all to raise money for charity.

At this time last year, we at Kiawah Island Golf Resort were all hard at work making sure the 94th PGA Championship was the best it could be. So, we appreciate the hard work that’s going on in Rochester. Best wishes go out to the folks at Oak Hill as they labor long hours to do the same. We look forward to watching an outstanding championship on a great golf course with a stellar field. Good luck, Oak Hill and good luck all of our friends at the PGA. Needless to say, we’re all pulling for a certain chap from Northern Ireland. Go Rory!

PGA club professionals* from all across the U.S., along with three of their members, will tee it up during the 15th Annual Kiawah National Pro-Am. The 72-hole stroke play event, sponsored by Club Car, will be held on four of Kiawah Island Golf Resort’s championship courses: Pete Dye’s world-famous Ocean Course, Jack Nicklaus’ Turtle Point, Gary Player’s Cougar Point and Tom Fazio’s Osprey Point.

Now in its 8th year, the Friendship Cup, a two-man tournament for male amateur players is contested on the world famous Ocean Course, site of the 2012 PGA Championship, and the Gary Player-designed Cougar Point Golf Course.

Back by popular demand, Thursday night begins with a Lowcountry oyster roast and BBQ at Mingo Point overlooking the Kiawah River. Enjoy fantastic food and music while making new “friends” and reconnecting with old ones.

KIAWAH ISLAND — Carter Jenkins got exactly what he wanted for his 18th birthday — the beautiful silver trophy that is awarded each year to the Carolinas Amateur golf champion.

Exhibiting a ton of patience on a windy Sunday that was prefaced by a lengthy rain delay, Jenkins erased a three-shot deficit going into the final round with a 1-under-par 71 and won the 99th Carolinas Golf Association Amateur Championship played at Kiawah Island Golf Resort’s Ocean Course.

The soon-to-be UNC Greensboro freshman from Raleigh squeaked past Clemson rising sophomore Miller Capps of Denver, N.C., by one shot, finishing the 72-hole tournament at even-par 288. Capps also tallied a final-round 71 for a 289 total. Daniel Claytor of Charlotte was also in the mix but unable to catch Jenkins, closing with a final-round 74 for a 292 total.

You never know what will come through the Sanctuary doors. Last week, John Rosemond, a speaker for a group staying in The Sanctuary, brought with him an authentic set of Bobby Jones-era hickory-shafted golf clubs.

As “bucket list” proof, the Rolex clock adjacent to The Ocean Course driving range, practice green and clubhouse is one of the most photographed icon on Kiawah Island Golf Resort. We’ll often see players running up from the 18th green after their round to get their picture taken before heading into the Ryder Cup Bar to celebrate their round.

There will now be an additional opportunity for photography. Rolex installed a second clock near the first tee by the practice green there. Now there’s no excuse for being late for your tee time!

March 10 to 14 brought golfers from all across the United States from as far away as Colorado to take part in the 14th annual Kiawah Island Golf Resort National Pro-Am, presented by Club Car. According to Ric Ferguson, Head Professional at Cougar Point and one of the event organizers, “It was the largest field in many, many years. We limited the event to 60 teams and sold out by mid January. We even had a waiting list.”

A couple of years ago, the resort changes the registration rules allowing a single professional to bring up to six members of their club, playing as two teams with the professional’s scores counting with each team. There were two clubs that did that this year. There were a total of 11 clubs that brought at least two teams. One club from Boston brought four 4-man teams.